Mycoplasma

Question 1

Physical description of mycoplasma

Answer 1

-exceedingly small

Question 2

Cell wall of mycoplasma

Answer 2

• no cell wall, membrane only
• membrane has sterols, require sterols to grow, obtains from host
• grows slowly on agar as tiny colonies with centers depressed

Question 3

Clinical presentation of mycoplasma

Answer 3

1. Mild walking atypical pneumonia or tracheobronchitis
2. insidious onset
3. mild fever and non productive cough
   - may become severe
   - resolves in around 4 weeks
4. occasional myringitis, eardrum
5. trigger for autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Question 4

Go to packet to review these slides, includes tables with description of sound noises

Answer 4

Got to mycoplasma packet

Question 5

Epidemiology of mycoplasma

Answer 5

• transmitted via respiratory droplets
• common in school age children
• higher incidence in winter

Question 6

Pathogenesis of mycoplasma

Answer 6

• proline rich adhesion protein
• when in host, elongated tip
• adheres to epithelial cells
• protein M covers up Ab Fab region, blocks Ab/Ag interact.

Question 7

Cytotoxic effects of mycoplasma

Answer 7

• production of H2O2, O2 radical
• competition for nutrients
• NOT intracellular

Question 8

Control of mycoplasma

Answer 8

• often don’t treat if mild
• tetracycline, erythromycin
• NO PENICILLINS

Question 9

Description of M. genitalium

Answer 9

• part of normal adult flora

- urethral and genital infections

Question 10

Description of M. hominis

Answer 10

• found in 10% of salpingitis cases

- also post part fever

Question 11

Description of Ureaplasma urealyticum

Answer 11

• requires 10% urea to grow - produces urease
• nongonococcal urethritis in males(bladder stones
• most common NGU is chlamydia trachomatis